My family and friends like to indulge my hobby by giving me gift certificates to the local coin dealer. The problem is, he's very overpriced but he's also the only game in town. Should I feel badly about buying coins using my gift certificates and grossly overpaying, or just treat it for what it is, free coins. My ideal remedy is to have everyone give me checks, so I can buy from my favorite online dealer and get a LOT more for my money, but asking for checks might seem a bit too presumptuous.
TC; Thank thm very much and use the gift certificates for supplies. (unless you got a lot of money, then, they are still free coins.) Next time, hint with names of your favorite dealers.
Free coins are still free coins. Beats the hell out of socks and a wallet (empty of course). That's what I got for Xmas. Andy
it depends on your relationship with these relatives. if you are close to them, they might want to hear that this delaer is way overpriced, and may prefer to give you a check so that you can get more for the money. so how close are you to them, or are they relatives you see once every thrice year and usually only see a x-mas card every other?
Actually, they are my in-laws and my wife's cousins. I think it's great that they actually put some thought into their gifts and know how much I enjoy collecting coins, so I think I'll just be thankful and keep supporting the local guy. By the way, if anyone wants to open a coin store on the Jersey shore.....
I well know your problem. Attempting to tell a relative, friend, neighbor that what they GIVE you is not what you want is something that has baffled everyone for a long, long time. That is exactly why there are so many returns after Christmas. Best to avoid herting anyone's feelings is to just accept them. Also, one good suggestion here was to buy coin collecting items instead of the coins. Most dealers have markups on those also but not so ever changing as coins. For example see how much he wants for Albums, 2x2's, magnifying glasses, etc. One other suggestion is to pretend to abandon the hobby with those that insist on giving you those gifts. You could kind of drop hints for a while that you lost interest and may go back some day but for now your concentrating on buying a boat, a car, a plane, rocketship, etc. Regardless of what you tell them it is always best to not have numerous individuals aware of a hobby where you have expensive items laying around. Not that it will happen to you but todays inlaws are not always tomorrows inlaws.
